Greatest American Hero

William Katt returns to write an updated version of The Greatest American Hero. With Stephen J. Cannell's blessing. Awww, yeah! I am there!

Can't believe it's been nearly 28 years since The Greatest American Hero debuted on ABC, March 18, 1981. I didn't see the first three episodes in first run - caught them over the summer as reruns - I started watching with episode four. I was hooked. And just as quick as it came on - it was gone.

Good times, good times.

Now, everybody is back. Life is good. The story's been updated. It doesn't seem as hokey or campy as it did. Rhonda and Tony look like high school students. Like it was an episode of 21 Jump Street or 90210 or something'. Clint Hilinski's pencils, with JM Ringuel, Jeff Jumper and Andrew Dalhouse on colors give this book an awesome look. Shawn DePasquale's letters jump right off the page in 3-D. It's interesting that as an "episode", this issue has four writers, including series star, William (Ralph Hinkley) Katt.
 
If you haven't seen The Greatest American Hero or don't have it on DVD, this issue tells the story from the very beginning, with only a few details tweaked. It's still the same story. It's still just as cool. Just as cool it looks like there's a Billy Bob Thornton cameo snuck in there!

I picked up a few issues of Dynamite's The Lone Ranger, where the story was tweaked almost beyond recognition. It looked more like Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven than Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels. That was more Will Smith as James West than Robert Conrad. This, is the Adam West original. The real deal.
 
The only problem is that it's published by a small press and not somebody like Dark Horse, Image or even Top Cow, where Seth Green's Freshman are. The only other problem is that this issue should have had a pin-up page of Ralph, Bill and Pam - maybe even Ralph's students, too - instead of four pages or more of house ads. Something to see Ralph in the suit in this first issue. Still, when he puts the suit on, I'll be there. It'll be cool. Just like old times.

Maybe now there'll be a Cosby cameo as one of Maxwell's old partners. Like on Saturday Night Live, when Robert Culp was guest host.

Awww, yeah.